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Hagen (dpa / lnw) - Only a few pharmacies in North Rhine-Westphalia offered the free corona rapid tests for all citizens on the starting day due to many unanswered questions.

"In the vast majority of cases, the pharmacies 'hands are tied because they are still waiting for the required commission from the municipalities," said the chairman of the North Rhine Pharmacists' Association, Thomas Preis, on Monday at the German Press Agency.

Counties and cities, on the other hand, were waiting for an ordinance from the state that lays down the framework conditions.

The federal and state governments agreed on the offer - one test per week from March 8, carried out by trained staff - last week, and the federal government will pay the costs.

NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) restricted, but the rapid tests would not be available to all citizens from Monday.

A pharmacist in Hagen said in response to a dpa request that the testing had started, although the assumption of costs had not yet been secured.

"We want to offer this service to the citizens, even if we first test it on our own account, at our own financial risk," said owner Inga Utermann.

According to the head of the association, Preis each rapid test costs 35 euros.

The six euros previously mentioned by the federal government for the test plus twelve euros for carrying out and issuing a test certificate are not enough.

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According to the association, every tenth pharmacy in North Rhine-Westphalia has so far offered chargeable corona rapid tests and could immediately ensure the offer for the free tests.

Another ten percent could be added in the short term.

“Certain spatial freedoms” are important, i.e. tents or rooms in the immediate vicinity of the pharmacy that can be used for the rapid tests if there is a lack of space.

"We are in good talks with the state government and local contacts."

The association sees the pharmacies as “priority providers” for the citizen-oriented service, as they are represented in all parts of the city and also in the countryside.

The country also wants to involve medical practices or municipal centers.

Preis said that there could be investments in space for pharmacies, but above all that there would be additional bureaucratic effort.

"The whole thing can probably only run with an obligation to set appointments, it has to be done electronically and the staff trained."

In the event of a very high rush, the pharmacies would have to hire additional staff, according to the head of the association.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210308-99-735907 / 2